ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,270 in Phuket versus $425 in Zaheerabad.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,304 in Phuket versus $679 in Zaheerabad.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,339 in Phuket versus $932 in Zaheerabad.
ðLiving in Phuket is roughly 198% more expensive than Zaheerabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Phuket5% lower, Zaheerabad68% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Zaheerabad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66āļŋ150
$3.40âđ319
37.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.44āļŋ1,496
$17.20âđ1,615
170.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68āļŋ280
$5.12âđ481
69.53%
Cappuccino
$2.95āļŋ95.0
$2.01âđ189
46.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70āļŋ22.52
$0.44âđ41.58
59.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39āļŋ12.70
$0.18âđ17.02
116.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53āļŋ81.6
$2.11âđ198
19.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78āļŋ122
$3.45âđ324
9.57%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Zaheerabad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.22āļŋ71.5
$0.37âđ34.31
500.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80āļŋ57.8
$0.30âđ28.35
500.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.19āļŋ70.4
$0.49âđ45.83
346.94%
Eggs
$2.31āļŋ74.5
$0.87âđ81.9
165.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.34āļŋ623
$6.28âđ589
207.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.77āļŋ121
$3.59âđ337
5.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.22āļŋ426
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.33āļŋ107
$1.76âđ165
89.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65āļŋ53.1
$0.60âđ56.6
175.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.29āļŋ73.7
$0.73âđ68.3
213.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99āļŋ64.1
$0.47âđ43.78
323.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53āļŋ49.24
$0.46âđ43.20
232.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51āļŋ48.77
$0.33âđ31.25
357.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03āļŋ33.12
$0.65âđ61.0
58.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51āļŋ16.57
$0.36âđ33.87
41.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41āļŋ142
$3.98âđ373
10.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.41āļŋ625
$8.54âđ801
127.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80āļŋ58.0
$2.03âđ190
-11.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68āļŋ86.4
$2.88âđ270
-6.94%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$6.56âđ616
-
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Zaheerabad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.43āļŋ46.11
$0.30âđ28.42
376.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70āļŋ377
$8.96âđ841
30.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.04āļŋ97.9
$1.14âđ107
166.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04āļŋ33.37
$0.32âđ30.33
225.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.68āļŋ441
$0.71âđ66.8
1826.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30āļŋ41.85
$1.25âđ117
4.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9Kāļŋ898.9K
$17.3Kâđ1.6M
61.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
$24.6Kâđ2.3M
34.31%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Zaheerabad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123āļŋ3,962
$38.80âđ3,642
216.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.82āļŋ445
$4.62âđ434
199.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.86āļŋ608
$8.43âđ791
123.72%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Zaheerabad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.2āļŋ1,970
$16.12âđ1,513
279.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.81āļŋ541
$6.96âđ653
141.52%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87āļŋ286
$3.98âđ374
122.86%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Zaheerabad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696āļŋ22.4K
$117âđ11.0K
495.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1Kāļŋ517.4K
$2,574âđ241.6K
523.87%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Zaheerabad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3āļŋ1,910
$31.49âđ2,956
88.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.85āļŋ1,123
$23.92âđ2,245
45.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,646
$48.20âđ4,524
134.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.1āļŋ2,740
$37.50âđ3,520
126.80%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Zaheerabad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$615āļŋ19.8K
$126âđ11.9K
387.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448āļŋ14.4K
$76.4âđ7,173
486.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,085āļŋ67.2K
$277âđ26.0K
651.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496āļŋ48.2K
$183âđ17.2K
716.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,734āļŋ120.3K
$1,069âđ100.3K
249.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,662āļŋ85.8K
$507âđ47.6K
425.10%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Zaheerabad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$534āļŋ17.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
9.19
-42.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Last update for Zaheerabad: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $615 in Phuket and $126 in Zaheerabad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ðDining out: $46 in Phuket vs $17 in Zaheerabad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $109 per month, with Zaheerabad cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Phuket vs Zaheerabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zaheerabad cheaper than Phuket?
Zaheerabad is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 198% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,904 in Phuket and $638 in Zaheerabad to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Zaheerabad?
Rent for a central apartment: $615 in Phuket versus $126 in Zaheerabad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $696 in Phuket versus $117 in Zaheerabad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Zaheerabad?
Supermarket bills run roughly 168% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Phuket or Zaheerabad?
At $425 in Zaheerabad versus $1,270 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Zaheerabad but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Zaheerabad the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Zaheerabad more family-friendly?
For families, Zaheerabad is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Zaheerabad?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Zaheerabad are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Zaheerabad gentler on the wallet â expenses run 198% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.